Key Services
Cost Planning and Estimating
Quantity Surveyors are the experts in construction cost estimating.
Do you know the anticipated final cost of your project at every step in the development process? Are you making the right design decisions and spending your money in the right place? At any time during design, development and delivery of the project, SSA can help answer these critical questions.
Cost Consulting services prior to construction include:
- Preliminary cost planning and procurement advice at concept design stage
- Cost management during design development
- Detailed Milestone Estimates in Elemental or Trade Division Format
- Class D, C, B and A Cost Estimates – Opinions of Probable Cost
During the post-contract phase clients’ benefit from:
- Accurate tender reviews
- Interim valuations of work in progress
- Timely financial statements projecting anticipated final cost, including costs associated with variations/change orders
- Settlement of the final account, upon completion
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Feasibility Studies
Value Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Project Controls
Feasibility Studies
SSA has amassed considerable data throughout their existence used to compile feasibility and market studies. These studies provide essential decision-making material prior to undertaking a development.
Such feasibility and market studies can include:
- Pertinent market and demographic data
- Development and construction cost estimates
- Real estate sales pricing
- Development cash flows and profitability studies
- Real estate marketing plans
- Assistance with assembling the correct team for the project
- Recommendations for ongoing management and operation of the built asset
- Advice on set up of home owners association or strata corporation if necessary
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Cost Planning & Estimating
Value Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Risk Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
The Life Cycle Cost of a built asset is a combination of initial capital investment and a series of future operational and maintenance costs. SSA has extensive experience in determining the initial capital cost of the asset. We also possess a sound understanding of modern construction technology and techniques that allows us to determine the potential future operational and maintenance cost of the diverse construction materials, assemblies, systems and methods used in industry today.
Depending upon the owner and/or occupier’s needs, with this information we can analyse and give advice on alternative designs, construction systems and material assemblies. This type of analysis gives insight into potential current and future benefits and pitfalls of such alternatives. The purpose is to establish the lowest overall cost during the planned life of the building. Utility, operation, and maintenance costs are evaluated against simple pay back, internal rates of return, net present value and time value to evaluate the best option.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Construction Cost Planning & Estimating
Value Management
Value Management & Engineering
The objective of Value Engineering is to deliver the best possible value for the least amount of resources, including capital cost. In the construction industry Value Engineering is used to eliminate waste from a project’s overall scope while at the same time retaining the critical functions of the final product.
At SSA we use the analytical processes and techniques of Value Engineering primarily to understand the overall business case associated with a project and secondly to develop a project strategy that responds to the core functional requirements in the most efficient manner. We are equipped with the experience and skills to assist owners and design teams with the development of project plans that deliver the best value within the parameters of available resources.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Feasibility Studies
Procurement Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Cost Planning & Construction Cost Estimates
Project Management
In an environment of competing interests, demanding time scales and ever tighter budgets, SSA’s broad project management experience ensures your project and design team stay organised and controlled – from inception to completion. No matter the size, type and complexity of the project, we ensure that the most suitable designers are selected, the most appropriate procurement process is followed, and that the right contractors are selected.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Cost Planning & Estimating
Risk Analysis
Project Accounting
Contracting Administration
Project Controls
Independent Certification & Financial Monitoring
SSA offers construction financial monitoring services for financial institutions and real estate investors across Western Canada. In instances where a Financial Institution has provided development financing for a project, SSA will review the pro-forma budget, procurement strategy, contract documentation, general quality and the construction schedule. We review monthly claims from Developers and when make recommendations as is appropriate for loan drawdowns being made by the Lender.
Through financial monitoring, SSA will verify the correct payments are being made, not over paid, and will value the cost to complete the project. This means the Bank knows that there are sufficient loan funds to complete the project. With general assistance from the project manager, SSA will also advise the Bank on the status and value of any variations or changes that are taking place on site.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Cost Planning & Estimating
Studies
Contract Administration
Risk Analysis
Dispute Resolution
Contract Administration
Typically a task assigned to architects and/or engineering consultants, Quantity Surveyors are professionally trained as Contract Administrators. We create, assemble and manage the following contract documents:
- Requests for Proposal (RFP) for Consultants
- Design Team Contracts
- Tender Documentation
- Construction Contracts (General Contract, Construction Management, Cost-Plus etc.)
- Change Management Documentation
- Substantial Performance Certification
- Holdback Retention Management
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Project Facilitation
Project Management
Risk Management
Project Controls
Project Accounting
Project accounting, sometimes referred to as job cost accounting, is the practice of creating financial reports specifically designed to track the financial progress of projects, which can then be used by managers to aid project management. Percentage-of-completion is frequently independently assessed by a project manager. Funding advances and actual-to-budget cost variances are calculated using the project budget adjusted to percent-of-completion. The ability to account for costs by contract is usually a requirement for interim payments and can involve the tracking of previous payments made, copies of cheques as well as obtaining Statutory Declarations.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Value Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Project Controls
Risk Management
Risk cannot be ignored. It is inherent in all capital projects and in the current economic climate it may be more so. SSA’s Risk Management services helps to identify as many potential risks that may affect any part of a project. We continually look for feasible mitigation strategies for each risk and periodically report the status of each risk as the project progresses. The experience we have captured on a vast array of project types and conditions is applied to every project and shared with the project team. We have processes that actively identify and create solutions for optimum project success.
Risk areas include:
- Commercial Risk: Owner’s Internal Organizational Risk
- Design Risk: Conception through Completion
- Construction Risk: Includes Market Conditions and Schedule
- Financial Risk: Budget, Change Management and Financing
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Feasibility Studies
Project Facilitation
Project Management
Project Controls
Reserve Fund Analysis
A Reserve Fund ensures that there are sufficient funds available for major repairs or replace to a building’s components during its lifecycle. The condominium Act now requires a reserve fund studies be carried out for all new condominium corporations. Reserve Fund Analysis can include the following items;
- Review of the condition of building components
- Estimates of their life expectancy
- Time estimates and cost on the need for repairs or replacements
- Cash Flow Analysis
- A 30-year projection for component replacement
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Feasibility Studies
Value Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Arbitration and Mediation
SSA has an established reputation working with owners and contractors, assisting with the cost aspects of arbitration, mediation and litigation. Our skills and experience have been employed on a variety of private and public sector construction disputes in the forensic examination of cost claims, analysing causes for delays, disruption and other claims.
The SSA team has practical experience in the construction industry gained with major commercial organisations, general contractors and sub contractors in Canada and other countries. These skills are put to good use in the resolution of disputes. Our daily involvement with the construction industry means that we are completely familiar with current developments and the up to date, relevant information which is essential in enabling us to express authoritative opinions.
Most disputes revolve around contract changes that result in delays, disruption and increased construction costs. SSA offers expert litigation and arbitration support services providing independant, objective analysis and advice. We also act independently as arbitrators, claims consultants and expert witnesses.
By applying analytical programming and financial management skills, SSA is able to determine the cause of problems, the time impact to be assessed and the costs to be quantified and allocated. This results in efficient dispute resolution and claims settlement for our clients.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Feasibility Studies
Procurement Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Cost Planning & Construction Cost Estimating
Receiver & Account Manager Services
SSA QS has an established history of assisting private and court appointed receivers on developments under receivership. In a typical receivership case, we would perform services such as cost-to-complete estimates, analysis of actual expenditure, review of existing contracts and purchase orders, progress payment certification and cost management. We also offer full accounts payable management and contract administration on behalf of the receiver.
All project in receivership have unique circumstances that contribute to the situation. SSA’s staff have the experience to quickly assess the foregoing circumstances and assist the receiver with finding reasonable and controlled actions in the interest of the secured creditors, other investors and the project in general.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Feasibility Studies
Value Management
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Project Controls
Project Controls
Our Project Controls effectively manages all aspects of a project performance and directly supports the project management team.
Project information is captured in a timely manner, this identify trends that directly influence management decisions during the build. This increases the overall success of the project and provides the owner’s management team with the right information to mitigate risk.
SSA|QS provides you with the right tools to manage cost, resources, information, schedules and risk.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Cost Management & Controls
Cash Flow Trends, Change Tracking
Planning & Scheduling
Contract Management
Expert Witness
We are often called upon to prepare expert reports containing our opinion of cost and other commercial matters associated with disputes. This usually occurs following procurement, construction or handover. However, it often happens as early as the design stage.
We have been appointed by both claimant and defendant parties to prepare expert witness reports and subsequently give evidence before the arbitrator or justice, if the dispute is not settled.
The varied backgrounds of our partners and the fair principles that govern our profession ensures that we provide expert reports and advice on commercial matters, payment issues, scope changes, delays, scheduling and procurement that are unbiased, to-the-point and precise.
Related Quantity Surveying Services
Arbitration & Mediation
Contract Administration
Cost Planning & Estimates
Project Facilitation
Tel: 250.763.6677
Fax: 250.762.6684